6.5″ Auto Morphin Figures

10″ Battlized Figure

Cycles with 4″ Figures

Megazord

Zords with Figures

Role Play Items

(Courtesy: Lord Zedd08 via Rangerboard)

BANDAI AMERICA INCORPORATED CONTINUES ITS “POWERFUL” LEGACY AS THE MASTER TOY LICENSEE OF POWER RANGERS

Multi-Year Deal Reunites Bandai America Incorporated with Original Power Rangers Developer

CYPRESS, Calif. – May 17, 2010 – Bandai America Incorporated, a leading manufacturer and master toy licensee of top children’s and interactive entertainment, announced today that it will continue as master toy licensee for the iconic pop culture powerhouse Power Rangers. Under the deal with Saban Brands, a new subsidiary of Saban Capital Group, Inc., Bandai America will continue its nearly twenty year tradition of developing fun and engaging action figures, playsets, role play items and more for the Power Rangers brand worldwide. The partnership comes on the heels of the announcement that the worldwide brand rights have returned to original franchise developer, Haim Saban.

In addition to Bandai America developing and manufacturing exciting new toys for the American market, Bandai Europe will also continue to produce and distribute the Power Rangers toy line across the continent. The toy lines will complement the re-imagined Power Rangers television series with new episodes set to air on Nickelodeon starting in 2011. Further, as part of the agreement, D3Publisher of America, Inc., developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software, will produce video games for the Power Rangers brand.

“Bandai America is committed to developing innovative toys that will reignite the Power Rangers brand as it embarks upon its third decade of pop culture dominance,” said Masayuki Matsuo, chairman and chief executive officer, Bandai America Incorporated. “The renewal of the Bandai and Saban collaboration will spark new fans and bolster longtime fan loyalty by delivering quality entertainment and create imaginative, modern play experiences.”

“It is only natural that as Power Rangers return to its original home with Saban, the toy license remains with Bandai America, creators of inspired, inventive toys for the brand since its inception,” said Elie Dekel, managing director and head of Saban Brands. “We are confident this reignited partnership will produce continued success and introduce the Power Rangers to a new generation of kids.”

In 1993, the Power Rangers dominated the air-waves, pop culture and playtime by showing that heroes and teamwork conquer all. Throughout the last 17 years, the brand has maintained its themes of teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage, family, friends and above all, the victory of good over evil. In the past year, Bandai America launched a refreshed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toy line to match the revamped Mighty Morphin television series.

About Bandai America Incorporated

A leader in developing engaging, quality toys that capture children’s imaginative spirit and provide endless “Fun For The Future,” Bandai America Incorporated is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in children’s toys and interactive entertainment today. The Bandai America brand family includes Power Rangers®, Ben 10™, Harumika®, Tamagotchi®, Pocoyo™ and Teeny Little Families™ among other boys, girls, pre-school and hobby product lines. Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., an entity that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan. Global interests encompass four strategic business units: toys and hobby, amusement facilities, game contents & visual and music content. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California. Find out more about our expertise in connecting with kids in fun and fresh ways at www.Bandai.com.

About Saban Capital Group

Saban Capital Group (“SCG”) is a leading private investment firm based in Los Angeles specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries. Established in 2001 by Haim Saban, the firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and takes an active role in its portfolio companies. SCG’s current private equity investments include Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US) and Tiger Gate Entertainment (a joint venture with Lionsgate to operate branded pay television channels across Asia). The firm formed the Saban Ventures subsidiary in 2008 to make early-stage investments in digital media, mobile and consumer internet endeavors and in 2010 formed Saban Brands LLC, a subsidiary to acquire, manage and license entertainment properties and consumer brands across media and consumer platforms globally. In addition, SCG actively manages a globally diversified portfolio of investments across public equities, credit, alternative investments, and real property assets. For more information, please visit www.Saban.com

About D3Publisher

D3Publisher is a video game publisher for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. D3Publisher has operations in the U.S., and Japan. The company also owns development studio Vicious Cycle Software, Inc., and its technology platform, Vicious Engine®. For more information about D3Publisher, please visit: www.d3publisher.us.

Deluxe Mix & Morph Titanus Base ($32.99 SRP): The first toy on our list really demonstrates the polarization of the hardcore collectors. For those who don’t know, the Mix & Morph line is based around Bandai of America’s extremely popular Ben 10 alien creation line. It basically allows you to take small versions the individual arms, legs and torsos of your favorite rangers and zords to combine them in any way that you see fit. It’s perfect for letting your imagination run wild.

On the flip side, we have Titanus. MMPR was back in the day before every ranger team had dozens of zords. Titanus – much like the Dino Megazord – was a sacred cow not to be messed with. Now they’ve been combined. I see it as the best of both worlds. The Megazord can ride on Titanus just like he did nearly two decades ago and kids can continue to create their own ranger/zord hybrids. But this begs the question: where’s the Dragonzord? The first season of MMPR had three main zords. We have the first. The third is confirmed. But where is the second?

(Picture Courtesy: ActionFigs.com)

Mighty Morphin Cycle with Figure ($12.99 SRP): This has been a staple of every single Power Rangers line. What’s better than a Power Ranger? How about a Power Ranger riding a motorcycle? That’s like combining peanut butter and chocolate. Two great tastes taste great together. That being said, over the years this aspect of the line has been met with mixed results. Some bikes are from the actual show. Some are thrown together to just fill out the line. Fans continue to question the odd suit designs of the figures on the bikes.

Our first cycle figures of the year featured the male rangers riding amalgamated versions of the dinosaurs. In fact, BoA went so far to keep the “males only” rule in effect that the Green Ranger rode a yellow Sabertooth Tiger. They also had traditional cycles which could be combined as new arms and legs to the deluxe Dino Megazord. This new line features a ripcord gimmick that will allow the cycles to move on their own. They will also be able to combine with the Dino Megazord.

Mighty Morphin – Morphin Racer with Figure ($17.99 SRP): To understand this part of the line picture Transformers meets Power Rangers. BoA is taking the concept of allowing kids to create their own megazords to the next level. Instead of just attaching arms and legs made out of cycles to the Dino Megazord base these cars that feature decals can morph into their own megazord torso. Its mix & morph on a whole other level.

(Picture Courtesy: Bandai)

Other toys include the traditional action feature rangers that go for $9.99. This time around they shoot projectiles from their shoulders.

We also have the Power Rangers Air Attack Megazord retailing at $44.99 making it the most expensive toy thus far of the new MMPR line. That’s right. The megazord flies. I don’t care how much hardcore fanboys sandbag and pretend otherwise, that’s cool as heck.

(Picture Courtesy: ActionFigs.com)

Speaking of the hardcore fans, you may be asking what else is out there for you to anticipate? The list might not be as long as you’d hope for but what is there delivers. The basic figure line continues with the White Ranger and the core three male rangers decked out in the Green Ranger’s dragon shield. The Green Ranger himself gets a toy only upgrade that includes more gold and silver highlights. I’m getting a Magna Defender vibe from him myself.

The cutesy, two inch line also expands featuring the Red Ranger with the dragon shield, the White Ranger, the Dino Megazord and the Dragonzord in Battle Mode.

Another interesting toy is a replica of the original morpher that shoot both the original dino coins and oddly enough the ninja coins. Could this be a sign of how deep BoA is planned to go into its MMPR catalog?

(Picture Courtesy: Sprocketman via Photokucket)

That’s all we have for now. I wouldn’t expect this to be the depth of the MMPR line for the entire fall. Typically, there is a moderate release of toys between the initial spring releases and the second big wave in the fall. I expect many of the above toys to hit in the next few months. From the wacky and the weird to the mainstays and collectibles, Bandai of America’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers has it all…

…including Jason and Tommy as cellphones.

So cast your vote for the Power Up Video Challenge!